Comments on: First American Home Warranty

By: Alex Knoxville, TN

Alex Knoxville, TN — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:52:46 +0000

First American continues to use a contractor who has been reported by other First American customers to be incompetent, unethical, and unresponsive. Although they received complaints from myriad customers (and these complaints can be seen online regarding this contractor), they still sent him to my house. One month later, our heat STILL is not working. The contractor took a critical & expensive component of the heater, so we need to find him so he can bring this part back (which he just happened to take with him without our knowledge). I would NOT recommend this company.

By: Katherine Wagstaff, Scottsdale, AZ

Katherine Wagstaff, Scottsdale, AZ — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:24:57 +0000

FIRST AMERICAN HOME WARRANTY OPTIONAL SPA COVERAGE
1. Spa controls didn’t work.

2. Limits of liability voided my entire spa warranty. Because it is an inground spa. My spa has a pc board that controls when the spa comes on (four times a day for 30 min each time), they consider that a control management system, and that voids the warranty, it is considered electronic system management. Even though it says timers, above ground electrical, switches and relays are covered, they together form a control system which is not covered.

3. Don’t trust the company they send out to you, watch them at all times. They sent me someone who’s BBB rating was F. They cut wires. Don’t leave them out of your sight.

By: Kate Wagstaff Scottsdale AZ

Kate Wagstaff Scottsdale AZ — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:19:57 +0000

FIRST AMERICAN HOME WARRANTY OPTIONAL SPA COVERAGE NOT WORTH IT
1. Spa controls didn’t work.
2. Limits of liability voided my entire spa warranty. Because it is an inground spa.
3. The first warranty company sent out someone who cut my wires and lied to the warranty company saying pests chewed insulation, chewed through the wires. Four technicians, one paid for out of pocket by yours truely, still they deny the claim.
4. My spa has a pc board that controls when the spa comes on (four times a day for 30 min each time), they consider that a control management system, and that voids the warranty, it is considered electronic system management. Even though it says timers, above ground electrical, switches and relays are covered, they together form a control system which is not covered.
5. Don’t even try to get a second opinion, they will still deny your claim and you will just be out the $60 service fee and the extra opinion fee.
6. Don’t trust the company they send out to you, watch them at all times!!!! They sent me someone who’s BBB rating was F! They messed with my spa and cut wires!! Don’t leave them out of your sight!
7. Good luck with your warranty.

By: Sara Woodbridge, VA

Sara Woodbridge, VA — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:23:54 +0000

As part of the closing on my first home, I received a one-year agreement with this company. I’ve had to call a couple of times (leaky toilet and busted part in my heating system) and have had quick response and resolution of my problems. I do have to agree that they tend to send people from out of the area. Living in the Washington, DC metro area, there are a zillion different companies that could have responded to either of my calls, but they chose companies who are 45 miles or more away. Doesn’t really make sense. My biggest argument is the price. I have done some comparison shopping in anticipation of my renewal date and have found other companies whose premiums are more than $130 less per year and whose service fees are $15 less per visit. I’m going to do a little more digging to see how these companies compare, but it’s looking like they have better ratings on this site and are signficantly cheaper!

By: Chris, Knoxville, TN

Chris, Knoxville, TN — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:34:43 +0000

My refrigerator broke down at 5pm on Friday, and I placed the call with FAHW after digging out the contract information. I was very satisfied when the cust. service agent told me he was upgrading the call to emergency status. He said the contractor would contact me within 4 hours, and the problem should be resolved within 8 hours. By 9am Saturday, I had yet to be contacted by the technician. I called FAHW and spoke with an agent who told me that appliances are not considered emergency repairs, and the techinician had 48 business hours to resolve the issue, which puts me looking at Tuesday before I can buy food to feed my family. No one with FAHW could do anything but tell me I had to wait for the tech. to call. They offered no attempt to satisfy their customer (they already had my money, right?), and showed no concern for the way they did business. The contract does state that the tech. has 48 hours to schedule service, but I seem to be the only one who feels this protocol was pre-empted by what I was told be their employee in customer service. I am severely dissatisfied with this company and would not recommend anyone doing business with them.

By: Jason, Corpus Christi, Texas

Jason, Corpus Christi, Texas — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:06:52 +0000

I am a Real Estate Agent in South Texas and I always used Old Republic, but they have really dropped the ball way too many times for my clients. I have switched all of my policies to First American and I truly can not say enough about their service! If you are looking for a truly reputable company this is the one!!

By: sb ,Webster, tx

sb ,Webster, tx — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:01:28 +0000

I am looking for a home warranty company. I have three rentals. Currently I have first american.

What I observed is that, the serviceman they sent will always find something that is not covered, (eg cleaning AC coil 400-500+). In this case I called the serviceman’s own company like a regular customer and they quoted 150-200.

The service people are trying to rack up business for themselves. Its always “you have to this first before I can check what is wrong”. And this is where thay get you.

They are CROOKS. I am disgusted.

By: Laurie San Antonio, Texas

Laurie San Antonio, Texas — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:34:05 +0000

The rating scale should show “0″ for poor review. I have been with First American Home Buyers Protection for about 2 years now, and will pick another company to renew with. I have had nothing but trouble when trying to make service calls. First American assigns companies that are 45 min away in a another town. (San Antonio is a big city, I am sure they have companies that can service closer to where I live.) Then there are times when the companies they assign do not show up. My issue today is a leaking washer, and broken dryer. I called to have them serviced, and the company they set me up with has an answering machine stating that they are open Mon-Fri from 8:30am – 5pm and to call back during that time. Well, it is Monday (not a holiday)and even at 10:30am I still get the same answering machine. I only have today off from work, and First American will not reasign my job to anyone else because the company has 48 hours to respond. I even asked for a supervisor, Jesse, who was very un-caring, and very un-helpfull. I did notice on the back of my contract for Texas Residents we can call the Texas Real Estate Commission at 512-465-3917 to make a complaint. The contract from First American is issued pursuant to a license granted by the Texas Real Estate Commission. If there is a class action suit against First American, I want to be a part of it. This company is not Customer Service Friendly. I had better luck getting service from American Home Shield, which has their own set of problems.

By: Ted, Los Angeles, CA

Ted, Los Angeles, CA — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:49:32 +0000

Terrible company – much like all the reviews you read here. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING is ever covered. PLus you have the ridiculous service fee every time someone comes out to tell you that something isnt covered.

AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE

By: dwane cochenour va beach, va

dwane cochenour va beach, va — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:58:37 +0000

my dishwasher broke two months ago. I made my first call to the company and was very impressed at first, they made an appointment for sears to come out the very next day. I was talking to everyone how great the company was. well the next day the tech came to my house and diagonsed the system with a bad internal timer and ordered the parts. two weeks later the tech came back and realized that the part ordered was not the actual problem. He contacted the warranty company and I was told they would get back with me. about 3 days later the company called me and gave me the replacement offer. I was satisified and said to get it. about a week later a tech from another company called and said he was on his way to install the dishwasher. I replied I don’t know how it hasn’t been delivered yet. the reply then was I would have to reschedule (ya think) the next day my dishwasher was delivered and an appointment was made. They called my wife the day of the appointment and said the tech called out sick and we would have to reschedule next tues at 9-1 my wife told them that she had a dr’s apt and the lady got irritated with that. she scheduled us for 1-5 today. At 11:35 am I got a call from the installation company saying they were on their way. I explained that our appointment was between 1 and 5 and was told that the tech was on their way and had to go to suffolk for the next appointment. and I could reschedule. I declined. Now I am without a working dishwasher and my money both. what a crappy way to do business

dwane cochenour